Nectarine tree named `Regal Pearl`

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a nectarine tree, Prunus persica, and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a large size, vigorous, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described approximately the third week in August, with first picking on Aug. 16, 1998. The fruit is uniformly medium in size, subacidic and sweet in flavor, globose in shape, clingstone in type, very firm and crisp in texture, and mostly red in skin color. The variety was a first generation cross using `Red Glen` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,193) nectarine as the seed parent and an unnamed white flesh nectarine seedling as the selected pollen parent.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of flesh market andshipping fruits, we, the inventors, typically hybridize a large numberof nectarine and peach seedlings each year. The present inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, which has beendenominated varietally as `Regal Pearl`. The present variety wasdeveloped by us in 1992 in a cultivated area of our experimental orchardat Bradford Farms near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (San JoaquinValley). It was a first generation cross using `Red Glen` (U.S. PlantPat. No. 7,193) nectarine as the seed parent and an unnamed white fleshnectarine seedling as the selected pollen parent. Subsequent toorigination of the present variety of nectarine tree, we asexuallyreproduced it by budding and grafting on Nemaguard (unpatented),rootstock, in the experimental orchard described above, and suchreproduction of plant and fruit characteristics were true to theoriginal plant in all respects.

The fruit produced by the present variety is most similar to the `FirePearl` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,358) nectarine by producing white fleshnectarines that are subacidic in flavor, clingstone in type, and mostlyred in skin color, but is distinguished therefrom and an improvementthereon by having reniform glands instead of globose and by producingfruit that ripens about two weeks later.

The present variety is similar to its seed parent, the `Red Glen`, byproducing clingstone nectarines that are mostly red in skin color andvery firm in texture, but is very distinguished therefrom by having ashowy instead of nonshowy blossom and by producing fruit that is whiteinstead of yellow in flesh color, that is subacid and much sweeter inflavor, and that ripens about two weeks later.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph exhibits four whole fruits positioned todisplay the characteristics of the skin color and form, a sectionedfruit sliced transverse to the suture plane to reveal the flesh andstone, and representative leaves.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics ofthis new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, the following has beenobserved under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand,Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif., and was developed at thestate of hard shipping ripe on Aug. 19, 1998. All major color codedesignations are by reference to the Inter-Society Color Council,National Bureau of Standards. Common color names are also usedoccasionally.

TREE

Size: Large, reaching a height of 12' [3.66 meters] by the 6th year ofgrowth, including typical dormant pruning.

Vigor: Vigorous, responding typically to irrigation and fertilization.The plant should be grown on a standard commercial rootstock forproduction purposes.

Growth: Upright and dense.

Form: Vase formed.

Hardiness: Hardy with respect to typical central California winters.

Production: Productive, thinning usually necessary.

Fertility: Self-fertile.

Bearing: Regular bearer, with no alternate bearing observed.

Trunk:

Size.--Medium, reaching a maximum diameter of 5" [127 mm.] after 6 yearsof growth.

Texture.--Medium to somewhat shaggy.

Bark color.--Grayish brown [61. gy.Br].

Lenticels.--Numerous. Color: Moderate brown [58. m.Br]. Typical Size:1/8" to 3/8" [3.2-9.5 mm.].

Branches:

Size.--Medium, typical of the species.

Texture.--Smooth on 1st year wood, increasing roughness with age.

Color.--1st Year Wood Topside: Light grayish red [18. l.gy.R]. 1st YearWood Underside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG]. Older Wood:Moderate brown [58. m.Br].

Lenticels.--Numerous, small. Color: Moderate orange [53. m.O]. AverageSize: 1/16" [1.6 mm.].

Leaves:

Size.--Large. Average Length: 53/4" [146.1 mm.]. Average Width: 15/8"[41.3 mm.].

Thickness.--Medium.

Form.--Elliptical.

Apex.--Acuminate.

Base.--Acute.

Surface.--Smooth.

Color.--Dorsal Surface: Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG]. VentralSurface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].

Margin.--Finely serrate.

Venation.--Pinnately net veined.

Petiole.--Average Length: 7/16" [11.1 mm.]. Average Thickness: 1/16"[1.6 mm.]. Color: Light yellow green [119. l.YG].

Stipules.--2 per leaf bud, up to 6 at the growing tip. Typical Length:1/4" to 3/8" [6.4-9.5 mm.].

Glands.--Numbers: 2 to 4 per leaf. Position: Oppositely positioned onpetiole and base of blade. Size: Medium. Form: Reniform. Color: Darkgrayish red [20. d.gy.R].

Flower buds:

Hardiness.--Hardy with respect to central California winters.

Diameter.--Typically 3/8" [9.5 mm.] 1 week before bloom.

Length.--Typically 5/8" [15.9 mm.] 1 week before bloom.

Form.--Free.

Surface.--Pubescent.

Flowers:

Blooming period.--Slightly later than most varieties.

Onset of bloom.--One percent on Mar. 3, 1998.

Duration of bloom.--One to two weeks, dependent on ambient temperature.

Type.--Showy.

Average diameter.--13/4" [44.5 mm.].

Color.--Pale pink [7. p.Pk].

Fragrance.--None to slight.

FRUIT

Maturity when described: Hard shipping ripe, Aug. 19, 1998.

Date of first picking: Aug. 16, 1998.

Date of last picking: Aug. 28, 1998.

Size: Uniform, medium.

Average diameter axially.--21/2" [63.5 mm.].

Average transversely in suture plane.--21/2" [63.5 mm.].

Typical weight.--5.71 ounces [162 grams].

Form: Globose, slightly compressed laterally, uniform, symmetrical.

Longitudinal section form. --Round.

Transverse section through diameter. --Round to elliptical.

Suture: An inconspicuous line toward the base becoming a very shallowgroove toward the apex, with a slight depression at the pistil point.

Ventral surface: Rounded, lipped toward the apex.

Lips: Mostly equal.

Cavity: Flaring, circular, suture showing on one side, stem markingstypical.

Depth.--1/2" [12.7 mm.].

Breadth.--3/4" [19.1 mm.].

Base: Truncate.

Apex: Rounded.

Pistil point: Negligible in length, indented within the suture.

Stem: Medium.

Average length.--3/8" [9.5 mm.].

Average width.--3/16" [4.8 mm.].

Skin:

Thickness.--Medium.

Texture.--Medium.

Taste.--Somewhat astringent.

Tenacity.--Tenacious to flesh.

Tendency to crack.--None observed.

Color.--Dark red [16. d.R] mottled over a moderate red [15. m.R]background with considerable pale orange yellow [73. p.OY] freckling onthe sides and toward the apex.

Flesh:

Color.--Yellowish white [92. yWhite] with dark red [16. d.R] streakingtoward the stone.

Surface of pit cavity.--Dark red [16. d.R] fibers breaking when twistedaway from the stone.

Amygdalin.--Slight.

Juice.--Abundant, rich.

Texture.--Firm, crisp.

Fibers.--Abundant, fine.

Ripens.--Slightly earlier at the apex.

Flavor.--Subacid and sweet, with a slight astringency at the skin,typically 16 to 20 brix.

Aroma.--Slight.

Eating quality.--Very good.

STONE

Type: Clingstone.

Form: Oval.

Base: Straight.

Apex: Acute.

Hilum: Narrow.

Sides: Equal.

Surface: Irregularly furrowed toward the apex, pitted toward the base.

Ridges: Jagged toward the base.

Color: Light brown [57. l.Br] when dry.

Pit wall: 1/4" [6.4 mm.] thick.

Average width: Approximately 1".

Average length: Approximately 13/16".

Tendency to split: Slight in wet season.

Kernel:

Form.--Oval.

Taste.--Very bitter.

Viable.--Yes.

Average width.--1/2" [12.7 mm.].

Average length.--11/16" [17.5 mm.].

Skin color.--Pale yellow [89. p.Y] with grayish brown [61. gy.Br] veinswhen first removed from stone.

Pellicle color.--Grayish brown [61. gy.Br].

Amygdalin.--Abundant.

USE

Market: Fresh and long distance shipping.

Keeping quality: Fruit quality observed to remain in good condition inexcess of 14 days in cold room at 36° Fahrenheit [2° Celsius].

Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Although the new variety of nectarine tree possesses the describedcharacteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., inthe central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected thatvariations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas withdifferent climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varyingcultural practices.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantiallyas illustrated and described, that is most similar to the `Fire Pearl`(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,358) nectarine by producing white fleshnectarines that are subacidic in flavor, clingstone in type, and mostlyred in skin color, but is distinguished therefrom and an improvementthereon by having reniform glands instead of globose and by producingfruit that ripens about two weeks later.